Esperon briefs UN body on Philippines anti-terror plan

The Philippine Star reports: “National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. laid down before the United Nations anti-terror body in New York City the Philippine government’s strategy to combat terrorism in the country. Speaking before the first UN High-Level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies and Members States at the UN headquarters, Esperon, who is also director general of the National Security Council (NSC), said on Friday that the country considers the Islamic State (IS)-inspired Maute terror group and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) as the existing threat groups in the country. The Mautes along with foreign terrorists attacked and occupied Marawi City in May last year in their bid to establish a caliphate state in Mindanao, while the NPA rebels have been included by the United States in the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO). Esperon, leading a high-level delegation to the UN body, said the county has been taking the necessary steps in fighting terrorism, consistent with the UN Global Counterterrorism Strategy.”